RESIDENTS of a care home at the centre of a damning report into institutional abuse have written to The Argus in support of the centre and its staff.

Last month this newspaper exclusively revealed Margaret House in Uckfield was under the spotlight after one elderly dementia patient was confined to a chair for hours on end without food or medication. Six other serious incidents were also investigated by the council.

Now residents of Margaret House and some of their family members have sent a petition to The Argus in support of Mihomecare – the firm in charge of the extra-care development that lost its contract with the council because of its poor standards.

The petition reads: “We sign below to show our support for the care staff and managers of Margaret House, who have been cast in a poor light by the report on the loss of the contract by Mihomecare.

"We have found them to be conscientious and caring people, in spite of earlier difficulties with the company, we feel respected, safe and well cared for.

“This article has caused unnecessary hurt and upset to the residents.”

There are 36 signatures on the petition.

But following our investigation, East Sussex County Council announced it was calling time on its contract with Mihomecare just nine months into its five-year, £2 million deal.

The blow came seven months after MiHomecare lost its contract with West Sussex County Council because the firm was “unable to provide safe and sustainable care to customers”, according to town hall bosses.

Mihomecare, known as Mitie, told The Argus: “The quality of the care that we provide and the safety and dignity of our customers is our highest priority.

“We are working hard with the local authority to continually improve standards across the business and we are investing in our people and processes to achieve this.”